First they came for the uprights and canisters and replaced them with robotic vacuums. Well, the robot takeover hasn’t gotten quite that far yet, but we’re definitely in the middle of a revolution. We’ve reviewed dozens of robotic vacuum cleaners in the last year, including many from iRobot, perhaps the most famous robo-brand of them all. While robotic vacuums can’t fully replace full-sized vacuums, affordable robots like the Roomba 690 or 652 do make it possible to vacuum less while having a machine clean for us on a schedule.
It’s similar with robotic mops; they won’t replace the need for a regular mop, but when made well, they should reduce the need. Today we’re going to look at one of iRobot’s recent forays into robotic, hands-free mopping: the iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop, and see how it compares to a sibling model, the Jet 240, in cleaning and value. Our ten second summary is to buy the 380t for a much longer runtime and better navigation and to buy the 240 if compactness is a priority. Our full review is below, and you can buy the Braava 380t here.
Pros, Cons, and Key Features of the iRobot Braava 380t Robot Mop
The iRobot Braava 380t is one of a series of robotic mops that have flooded the market in recent years, spurred by the success of robotic vacuums. Made by iRobot, it’s also an upgraded version of the closely related Jet 240. Key features of the Braava 380t include one-touch functionality (you simply press it and off it goes), mapping and navigation of your home via an infrared cube system, two cleaning modes (dry sweep and damp mop), a 90 minute battery runtime, and a 2 hour recharge time.
While the 380t cleans with reusable and washable cleaning cloths, you can also connect it to disposable, Swiffer-type microfiber cleaning cloths if you already have some or want an a different cleaning option. The 380t is 3.1 inches tall, giving it enough clearance to pass beneath most furniture, beds, and cabinetry, and has a 9.6 inch wide cleaning path while weighing 4 pounds.
Inside the box, you’ll find the 380t, a turbo charging cradle, a Northstar navigation cube, and a pair of cleaning pads that you’ll use to connect the included dry and damp microfiber cleaning cloths. You’ll also find a user’s guide and the same too-short one year warranty found throughout the robotic cleaning market.
What’s the difference between the Braava 380t and the Jet 240?
The main differences between the Braava 380t and Jet 240 have to do with battery life, navigation, cleaning modes, and size. Of these differences, the most significant is probably battery life: you get 90 minutes with the 380t and only 20 minutes with the 240. While both have rapid charging systems that will have the batteries ready to go in around 2 hours, the additional hour of useful life in the 380t makes it a lot easier to get through multiple rooms thoroughly. With the 240, you’re generally limited to one room’s worth of cleaning unless you have particularly small rooms.
The second significant difference involves navigation. While both are capable of getting around without bumping into too many objects, the 380t is notably more organized than the 240, which is undoubtedly due to its navigation cube system. Essentially, the cube bounces an infrared signal off your ceilings to help guide the 380t by mapping the room in which it’s installed. You can still use the 380t without the cube, but it navigates in a more haphazard function without it (much like the 240, in fact). You can buy additional cubes to help the 380t navigate through larger environments or multiple rooms, but it won’t be necessary for most homes; you can just move the cube as needed.
The third and fourth differences involve cleaning modes and size. Simply put, you get two cleaning modes in the 380t: dry and damp, while you get three in the 240: dry, damp, and wet. Each machine can only use one mode at a time; you set it by the cleaning pad you connect. Practically speaking, the wet mode on the 240 is equivalent to the damp mode on the 380t, but if you’d like three modes instead of two and feel you’ll get a difference between each of them, this is a point in favor of the 240.
It’s important to note that you only get Swiffer pad compatibility with the 380t because the 240 is too small to accept the microfiber cloths. However, that smaller size is part of the appeal of the 240 to people with narrow spaces; the 240 fits better around bathroom fixtures like toilets and sinks since it has a slightly smaller profile.
Beyond the differences noted above, it’s worth mentioning that the Jet 240 is also somewhat cheaper than the Braava 380t and is available exclusively in white, while the Braava 380t is slightly more expensive and only available in black.
How well does the Braava 380t mop compared to a regular hand mop?
When buying a robotic mop, you need realistic expectations to be happy with how it performs. It’s not going to replace a full-sized manual mop; it’s too small and it’s not powerful enough to dig into stains the way you will when you really want them out of your floors. Nor will it replace a manual mop, unless you never owned one to begin with, like many bachelors we know–in which case a robotic mop will be a definite improvement in the overall maintenance of your flooring. But for the rest of us, it’s important to keep in mind that a robotic mop like the 380t is going to supplement a regular mop, rather than allow you to throw one away.
That said, it’s perfectly capable of dusting and lightly cleaning bare floors of all types (hardwood, tile, vinyl, laminate, and concrete), and it does a rather good job at it. The long battery life lets it mosey around without your needing to follow up on it to charge it every half hour, and it navigates accurately enough to be left alone with trust that it’ll eventually reach every part of a floor.
Do remember that you will need to take it back to its charger when it’s out of battery power, and that you’re not going to be able to set cleaning schedules or routines; it’s not a robotic vacuum like a Roomba 690 or even 652 or 650. You’ll also need to fill it up with water on damp mode and periodically wash the cleaning pads. But it works, and with realistic expectations, it works well.
Why buy the Braava 380t?
In conclusion, while robotic mops aren’t nearly as advanced yet as their vacuuming counterparts, the Braava 380t is far enough along to supplement a regular mop for most people and completely replace one for people who wouldn’t otherwise mop. It has a great amount of battery life, is simple to use, and includes reusable cleaning pads to make it environmentally friendly and inexpensive in the long term. We’d recommend it over the 240 unless you explicitly need a very small mop to fit between bathroom fixtures.
You can buy the iRobot Braava 380t here on Amazon or skip the upgraded features for the simpler Braava Jet 240 here instead.
Canadians can buy the iRobot Braava 380t here on Amazon or spend a bit less for the Braava Jet 240 here.
If you find our research on PMC helpful, you can follow our efforts to keep maniacally reviewing home cleaning tools by shopping through our links above. We promise to keep fighting the good fight against every horror children, animals, and grown, yet messy humans can inflict upon a clean home.